Oslo: The United States will on Fridayopenitsnorthernmost diplomatic station Fridayopenitsnorthernmostdiplomaticstationinthe world, a symbol of theArctic’s increased importanceinWashington, at a time when cooperation amongArcticnations has been hit by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced theopeningof thestation, inTromsoe, northernNorway,inJune, as a means for the US to have a “diplomaticfootprint above theArcticCircle”, he said.
Called a “presence post”,itwill not offer consular services.
“Symbolically,itis significant,” Andreas Oesthagen, a senior research fellow at the Oslo-based Fridtjof Nansen Institute, told Reuters.
“Itis a gesture that showcases just how much more important the US sees theArcticnow than only five or ten years ago.”
Tromsoe is the largest cityinArcticNorway, located about 400km (250 miles) to the west of Russia.Norwayand Russia share a borderintheArctic.
Tromsoe is also the seat of theArcticCouncil, a polar body comprising the eightArcticstates of Russia, the US, Canada, Finland,Norway, Iceland, Sweden and Denmark.
Cooperation within theArcticCouncil between Moscow and the WesternArcticstates was put on hold after Russia’s invasion of UkraineinFebruary 2022.
More recently, some cooperation on the council has resumed, but remains limited to the level of seniordiplomats, with no discussions among political leaders.
(Published 27 October 2023, 04:44 IST)